Network development plan 2018

Initial Situation

In times of digitalisation and cross-linking as well as the unlimited availability of information in data networks, a secure reliable power supply is becoming more important every day.
The functioning of our society is bound to an economically feasible as well as permanently availabe electricity supply. In addition to the availability of sufficient generation capacities to meet the electricity demand at all times, corresponding grid capacities must also be available for the transmission and distribution of electricity.
In liberalised environment of European electricity industry and with a goal of an integrated European electricity market (q. v. „Clean Energy for All Europeans“ package of the European Commission), in face of changing general conditions, transmission grid operators are facing new challenges every day. Besides the market price-based power plant operation, rising electricity consumption, new power plants and above all, locally concentrated erection of volatile renewable energies (e.g. wind energy) influence significantly power flux and load in transmission grids. Overall, increasing and strongly fluctuating grid loads and consequently noticeably rising requirements for electricity grids are reported.

A powerful transmission grid infrastructure is a basis for a high security and reliability of electricity supply. It represents a backbone of Austrian business location and a basic requirement for the further development of renewable energy and attainment of Austrian and European energy and climate protection goals.

Network Development Plan 2018

The Network Development Plan (NDP) is a legal requirement (in accordance with § 37 ElWOG 2010) and is based on the Ten Year Network Development Plan from ENTSO-E, on the NDP 2017 and on the APG Masterplan 2030. By publishing this plan, APG informs all market participants about the important transmission infrastructures in transmission grid of APG that need to be upgraded or expanded.

The NDP contains a list of investments that have already been decided upon, as well as projects that must be implemented in the next three years. In addition, the NDP presents plans for the transmission system for the next ten years (2019 – 2028) on the basis of the development forecast for the energy sector. The projects presented in the NDP are categorised into projects of national and European interest and network connection projects.
During the consultation period from end of June to end of July 2018, all relevant market participants had the opportunity to submit comments on the NDP 2018. After APG had processed and checked the comments on the NDP, it was submitted to E-Control Austria for approval at the end of August. The approved NDP was published at the end of 2018.
Extensive grid reinforcement and expansion measures will have to be implemented in Austria by 2028 to meet the outlined challenges. The projects described in the APG Network Development Plan 2018 include:

New transmission line projects extending over approx. 220 km

Conversion of 100 km of transmission lines to a higher voltage level

Reinforcement and reconstruction of 400 km of existing transmission lines

Construction and expansion of numerous substations with approximately 150 switchbays at voltage levels of 380/220/110 kV

construction of approximately 30 transformers with a total capacity of approx. 11,000 MVA

Extensive line coordination and optimisation measures are being implemented within the framework of major projects, e.g. the 380-kV Salzburg line, leading to the removal of ca. 400 km old, low-capacity lines

Furthermore, extensive reinforcement/refurbishment measures of substations and lines are planned

The processing of the projects described in the network development plan will require a major effort both from APG and the authorities responsible for approvals.

Necessary framework conditions for grid expansion and reconstruction in Austria

A significant factor for the implementation of the necessary reinforcements of the transmission grid is the duration of permitting procedures. These are currently very complex (federal and provincial legislation) and hence time consuming. Moreover, additional specific factors (existing or planned routes not or insufficiently secured; diverging limit values in the area of noise and/or EMFs; no separate authorization system for the upgrade of power lines; lack of standard public participation process; capacity bottlenecks, including human resources in the administrations or experts in charge of the proceedings) delay the approval procedures.

In order to eliminate these deficits and, hence, implement the energy turnaround in Austria in a sustainable fashion, the following federal framework conditions have to be improved:

Equality of the transmission grid with roads and rails in terms of authorization process aspects and standardized public participation process

Harmonization of limit values for commissioning and operation

Implementation of the principle "Upgrade before new construction" - simplified procedure for upgrading (e.g. from 220 kV to 380 kV

Protection and clearance of existing routes (e.g. from substructures) and planning corridors (cf. current regulations in the road area)

Clarification of the public interest of projects in the network development plan

Definition of system-relevant conventional (base-load) power plants and regulatory classification.

Summary

The completion of the projects in the Network Development Plan and the associated expansion of grid capacities in line with the existing requirements are essential prerequisites to ensure the monitoring and implementation of the “Energiewende” (transition of the energy system towards RES) and the Austrian Climate- and energy strategy #mission2030. In addition to the integration of renewable energy sources, attention is focused in particular on guaranteeing the existing high level of security and reliability of supply for electricity consumers in Austria in the long term and the further development of the electricity market.